Kazan: Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed reports Friday suggesting that North Korean troops may have been deployed in Russia, asserting that any military coordination with Pyongyang is Moscow’s “own business”. His remarks followed recent allegations by the United States and South Korea that North Korea has sent troops to Russia, possibly to support the conflict in Ukraine.
Neither Confirming Nor Denying
Speaking at a BRICS summit in Kazan, Putin responded to questions regarding satellite images that allegedly show North Korean soldiers moving within Russian borders. “The images are serious. If there are images, they show something,” Putin remarked, without confirming or denying any North Korean presence in Russia.
U.S. sources estimate around 3,000 North Korean soldiers may have entered Russia, potentially marking a new phase of international involvement in the Ukraine conflict that started with Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Accusations Against the West
Putin also took the opportunity to criticize Western nations, accusing NATO of directly escalating the conflict in Ukraine by embedding officers and instructors in operations against Russian forces. “We know who is present, from which NATO countries, and how they conduct their missions,” he claimed.
For months, Moscow has insisted that Western support for Ukraine equates to direct involvement in the conflict, a claim consistently denied by NATO leaders, who stress their support is defensive.
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Referencing the recently signed defense pact between Russia and North Korea, which includes mutual defense commitments, Putin asserted: “What we do within this framework is our business.” While refraining from specific details, his comments suggest Moscow feels justified in strengthening ties with Pyongyang as it counters Western backing for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Putin stated that Russian forces are making gains on all fronts and have reportedly surrounded a substantial number of Ukrainian troops near Russia’s Kursk region. This region was the site of a cross-border incursion in early August, where Moscow alleges Ukrainian forces briefly occupied Russian territory.
